A Celebration of 1st Meetings | People | Cultures | Species | Worlds

The Project

Come.

Vancouver’s Presentation House Theatre and Mortal Coil Performance Society partnered to create FIRST WELCOME – HYCH’KA (Huy chexw a | Hay ce:p ’qə)– July, August and September, 2017 in North Vancouver BC and Richmond BC. Part of Canada’s 150+ Celebrations, FIRST WELCOME –HYCH’KA (Huy chexw a | Hay ce:p ’qə)explored and celebrated first contacts and welcome between people, cultures, and species.

The cornerstone of these events was Meh’k, a spectacular giant Coast Salish Puppet that, together with people from the street and local businesses, journeyed across the North Shore to meet his many “visitors”, travelling in the company of the Musqueam First Nation’s Tsatsu Stalqaya orCoastal Wolf Pack, local children and community choirs and more.

These free impromptu performance experiences featured live music, singing, puppetry and parades that engage all present, celebrating a nation founded on the experiences of immigration and first contact. Workshops in puppetry, mask making, drumming and stilt walking were offered at select events.

Many came and enjoyed, experiencing the excitement, curiosity and wonder of meeting someone or something new for the first time.